Cash-register.



No. 700,778. Patented May 27, I902.

E. H. JAHNZ.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sham l.

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CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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INVENTOI? No. 700,778. Patented May 27, I902.

E. H. JAHNZ.

CASH REGISTER.

(Applicatiun filed Aug. 12, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheats-Sheet 3.

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No. 700,778. Patented May 27, I902.

E. H. JAHNZ.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1901.) (No Model.) rSheets$ heet 4.

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. frame for each set of keys is provided.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERWIN HERMANN JAl-INZ, OF VVESTEND, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO DR. PAUL MEYER ACTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

CASH-REGlSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,778, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed August 12, 1901. Serial No. 71,767. (No mode To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERWIN I-IERMANN J AHNZ, engineer,a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at Westend, near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cash-Registers; and I doherebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the new cash-registers and the like the mechanism which in this kind of apparatus is rotated when the keys are depressed by means of pusher-bars to an angle corresponding to the depressed key is of special form. In the present case thismechanism is formed like a winding stair, revoluble on its axis. This is rotated, on the one hand, to the corresponding amount when a pusher-bar goes up, and thus operates the adding mechanism in the required manner. On the other hand, it allows,afterthe rotation is completed,of a fur-r ther upward movement of the pusher-bar.

Special devices are provided for bolting the stair in the initial and in the respective final positions and also for making its movement compulsory.

Hitherto cash-registers have been provided only with a single key-coupler for all the keys. All the keys of each set have, however, certain functionsin common which do not correspond with those of other sets. For example, the catch of the adding mechanism of the set in question has to be released each time enactly the same whether the 5 or the 9, for instance, of the setin question is operated. It is further necessary to effectively prevent the appearing of a zero-indicator, which appears every time when no key has been depressed from that set whenever any one key of the set has actually been operated.

According to the present invent-ion, in ad dition to the ordinary large key-coupler common to all the keys, a special swinging This performs the functions which are common to all the keys of the same set, but not to the keys of different sets.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a cash-register arranged according to the present invention, having four sets of keys.

Figure 1 is a side view of the new cash-register. Fig. 2 is also a side view of the same, showing only the mechanisms operating a stair. Fig. 3 shows the mechanisms represented in Fig. 2 in another position. Fig. 4- shows a stair as detail. Fig. 5 is also aside view of the new cash--register,showing the mechanisms for operating a swinging frame and operated by the same. Fig. 6 shows the mechanisms represented in Fig. 5 in another position. Fig. 7 shows a detail. Fig. 8 shows the cashregister, partly in a plan view, partly in a sec tion on line a: so in Fig. 1, only one stair and its mechanisms being represented in order to make it clearer.

The key-levers a, each representing a given money value, are arranged in a row on the shaft 1). Altogetherare provided four times nine-t. 6., thirty-sixkeys a, nine keys for one to nine cents, nine keys for ten, twenty, (R50, to ninety cents, nine keys for one to nine dollars, and nine keys for ten, twenty, due, to ninety dollars; but of these four sets of keys only the one which represents the dollars is shown in Fig. 8.

The keycoupler consists of the cross-bar c and swinging arm 0', which are revoluble on the rod d. The cross-bar c is placed transversely over all the keys a, Figs. 1 and 2.

The keys a are pivoted on the rod 1) by means of a longish slot, Fig. 2. On the inner head of each key is provided another slot a opposite to the bar 0. Each key can be pulled out in its longitudinal direction. The bar 0 enters then in the slot a under the nose (1 A key is always to be pulled out if a value is to be registered to which a single corresponding key is not providedfor instance, twentyfive cents. In this case, first one pulls out the twenty-cents key and then one presses down the five-cents key, or vice versa. The key pulled out is also raised by the key later pressed down by the intermediary of the keycoupler.

The keys are secured in their position, when they are pulled out or not, by the cross-bar a, supported by two lateral arms 6, and always pressed up by the springs 6 The bar 6 lies ither against the one or the other side of a projection 0., provided on the under side of each key a.

On the inner end of each key a is pivoted a pusher-bar f, which moves up and down if the corresponding key is actuated.

In order to convert into rotary motion the up-and-down movement of the pusher-barsj, a revoluble winding stair g is provided for each set of keys, Figs. 2, 4. This stair extends between two front plates g 9 set on a tubular hub 9 which plates are connected with one another by a bar The front plate g is provided internally with a crowntoothing A coupling-bar 7t connects the winding stair with a toothed sector 1 which actuates one or more adding meehanismsj in the usual manner. Each step of the winding stair is intended for a pusher-bar f. The stroke which the single pusher-bars have to make from their original position until they engage with the corresponding step varies, being greater in proportion as the value indicated by the key of the said pusher-bar is small. On pressing a key the stair is each time turned until the hammer-formed head of the pusher-bar can pass between the corresponding step and the rollers f, which serve to guide the bar. The pusher-bar, and consequently the keyorkey-eoupler, is now, however, enabled to move still farther in the original direction without rotating the stair. This part of the movement may be utilized in the new apparatusfor instance, for uugearing the adding mechanism and for operating the transference of the tens, oc. An arm t" of the sector 1' rests in the first position of the stair against an axle 71:, and thus prevents the rotation of the sector '2 and also that of the stair g in one direction. Rotation in the other direction is prevented by a hook 0, Fig. 1, which rests between a pin g of the stair and one of the rollers f in a manner furthermore explained. The bolting by the said hook is released as soon as the head of the corresponding pusher-bar passes between the bar g and the rollerf. The heads of the pusher-bars are hammer-formed, so that when the stair turns either to the right or to the left, Fig. 3, one side surface always touches the corresponding step and their under side f" the bar g of the stair. In this manner whether the pusherbars move up or down the rotation of the stair which they effectis made compulsory. Apivoted hook Figs. 2, 3, serves to bolt the stair in its end position, which engages in the corresponding notch of the crown-toothing (f. Rigidly connected with the hook 7t" are two arms h the studs 70 7c of which lie in the path of a rocking cam Z. This cam is rigidly connected with the arms 0 of the key-coupler c, with which it consequently swings to and fro. During the rotation of the stair the stud 7i2 slides on the part Z Z of the cam, forming the arc of a circle around the axis (Z. If the rotary motion of the stair ceases, the part Z Z of the cam comes against the other stud 70* and forces the hook it" into a notch of the crown-toothin g g, and consequently locks the stair g in its end position. The other end Z Z of the cam is formed so that the stud 7; can carry out the corresponding motion. If the cam Z turns still farther'to the left, it has no effect on the hook 7t, as the stud 7.7 now slides on the part Z Z of the cam, forming the are of a circle. The stair is released also by means of the part Z Z of the cam cooperating with the stud 7& The pusher-barsf are constructed with hooksf at their lower ends, which seize the indicator-barsm, Figs. 1, 2, The latter consist of a spring-mounted bar which carries the indicator-tablets m. The bars are bent and held in the terminal position in any suitable manner.

In order to prevent more than one key from the same set being depressed, ratchet-pendulums n, Figs. 2, 8, are provided, which cooperate with suitable projections a of the lovers in the well-known manner. The pendulums are pivoted and lie at short distances apart. The pendulums for each set are arranged between two rigid lugs 72., Fig. 8. The sum of these spaces is equal to the width of one projection (0 Consequently when one projection is forced between the pendulums no other key of the same set can be pressed down, as the pendulums cannot go out of the way of the projection of the second key and block it.

The swinging frame, which is provided according to the present invention for each set of keys, is pivoted, like the large key-coupler, upon a shaft 0' and likewise consist of side plates o o and a bar 0, Figs. 1, 5, G, 8. The swinging frame is moved each time a key of its set is depressed, but remains stationary when no key of its set is operated. In the first case the special stair g, provided for each set, must be unlocked each time. The locking is effected by means of the hook 0', already mentioned, which is coupled with one end to the plate 0 and which moves between the pin of the winding stair g and the guide-roller 1". By pressing any one of the keys of a set the corresponding stair is unlocked, because the hook o is raised by the corresponding swinging frame.

If no key of a set is depressed, it is desirable that a zero appear in the corresponding indicator-slot, as this prevents any other numeral appearing and also because the zeros are necessary for completing the numerical figures. The Zero-indicators are in the present case arranged exactly like the other indicaters.

The Zero-indicator is operated by a projection p of the lever p, which is pivoted on the axle 1), Figs. 1, 5, 6. To this lever is coupled a hammer g, which in the position of rest engages with a side pin q between the prongs of a fork r, Fig. 7, pivotally attached to the base-plate. The hammer q is formed so that it projects in the path of the plate a of the large key-coupler, Fig. 5, and the latter will consequently take it with it every time if nothing else prevents. This is always the case when no key of the corresponding set is de- Then the plate 0 engages under pressed.

the hammer q, lifts it, and consequently also the corresponding lever 19, the projection 19 of which makes the Zero-indicator of this set appear. The zero-indicator shall, however, remain unoperated when any key of the corresponding set is depressed. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.) For this purpose the plate 0 of swinging frame is provided with ahook 0 which immediately on the commencement of the upward movement rests against a projection r on the fork r and forces the latter to one side. Owing to the pin q the hammer q is likewise moved, so that the plate 0 of the large key-coupler can now freely pass by it. The distance between the plate 0 and the hammer q is so great in the position of rest that the hook 0 has already moved the hammer q to the side before the plate 0 is raised far enough to touch it. In order toput back the hammer and fork into their original positions, the fork is provided with an arm 7 against which the back of the hook 0 rests when it goes down.

When the zero-indicator is operated, of course the subsequent pressing down of a numeral-key of the same set must be prevented. For this purpose the lever 19 of the zero-indicator, like the key-levers a, is provided with a projection 9 which cooperates with the above-describedratchet-pendulumsn. Therefore if the projection 19 is forced between the pendulums no key of the same set can be depressed, as the pcndulums block its way.

It is easily understood that the described mechanisms will change their forms and details if they are employed in cash-registers of another system or in adding or in calcalating machines; but the spirit of the present invention will be the same in all these cases.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cash-register or the like and in combination, a plurality of pusher-bars having hammer-shaped heads, key-levers to which said bars are pivoted, an adding mechanism, a special revoluble stair for each set of keys having a bar and adapted to drive the adding mechanism, a coupler for all the keys, and a swinging frame for each set of keys, the pusher-bars during the rotation of the stair touching always with one side surface the corresponding stair and with the under side the bar of the stair, substantially as described.

2. In a cash-register or the like and in combination, a plurality of pusher-bars having hammer-shaped heads, key-levers to which said bars are pivoted, an adding mechanism, a special revoluble stair for each set of keys adapted to drive the adding mechanism, a coupler for all the keys and a swinging frame for each set of keys, hooks connected with the key-coupler for securing the stairs in their respective final positions, and other hooks connected with the swinging frames for securing the stairs in their initial positions, substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register or the like and in combination, a plurality of pusher-bars having hammer-shaped heads, key-levers to which said bars are pivoted, an adding mechanism, a special revoluble stair for each set of keys adapted to drive the adding mechanism, a coupler for all the keys, and a swinging frame for each set of keys, zero-indicators for each set of keys, said indicators having levers, hammers pivoted on said levers, and forks cooperatin g with said hammers, substantially as described.

4. In a cash-register or the like and in combination, a plurality of pusher-bars having hammer-shaped heads, key-levers to which said bars are pivoted, an adding mechanism, a special revoluble stair for each set of keys adapted to drive the adding mechanism, a coupler for all the keys, and a swinging frame for each set of keys, zero-indicators for said keys having levers, projections carried by said levers and ratchet-pendulums cooperating with said projections, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ERWVIN IIERMANN JAHNZ.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY I-IAsPER, WILLIAM MAYNER. 

